BritChips podcast: RayD Technologies - Learning with Limited Data

In this latest episode of The BritChips Podcast, Rayd Technologies cofounder and CEO Kilian Stenning explains how he, co-CTOs Riccardo Sapienza (Professor of Physics at Imperial) and Kirsten Moselund (Head of Laboratory at PSI Paul Scherrer Institut) and CSO Jack Gartside (Associate Professor of Physics at Imperial) are leading pioneering work on photonic semiconductor technology and novel algorithms with the potential to shape the future of AI.In this episode:* Killian’s unexpected journey from nuclear accident analysis to semiconductor startup founder* The origins and evolution of RayD Technologies and its unique name* How brain-inspired dynamics enable learning from limited data* The role of photonics and nonlinear systems in ultra-fast AI processing* The current hardware prototype and plans for miniaturization* Application focus: medical imaging, robotics, and beyond* Funding progress, including support from the Royal Academy of Engineering* The startup’s strategic collaborations and upcoming milestones* Insights on balancing technological deep dives with business growth* The importance of team, network, and perseverance in startup successTimestamps (approx)00:00 - Introduction to Kilian and the fusion of photonics and brain-inspired computing02:05 - Kilian’s early career in nuclear accident analysis in Japan03:04 - How photonics hardware inspired the company’s research direction04:11 - Developing scalable semiconductor photonic platforms at Imperial College05:24 - The collaboration between hardware and algorithm teams to create RAYD’s technology06:45 - From academic research to commercial startup: the journey of recognition07:01 - Key breakthroughs in processing medical images with limited data08:23 - The story behind the company’s name, RAYD09:47 - Differentiating RAYD’s neuromorphic approach from traditional AI and neuromorphic systems10:34 - Brain-inspired features like parallelism and nonlinear activation functions11:41 - How the system learns efficiently, mimicking human learning with minimal data12:46 - Achieved reductions of up to 30x in training data requirements13:26 - Hardware versus algorithms: the photonics platform’s critical role14:22 - Unique nonlinear photonic processing in RAYD’s device, using laser systems15:31 - Application scenarios in medical imaging and robotics, sourcing data from public datasets17:22 - Development stage: tiny device, large supporting hardware, and plans for miniaturization18:27 - Roadmap to portable systems and real-world testing19:14 - Interest from robotics companies for on-device learning and adaptability21:01 - Funding updates: success with the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Green Future Fellowship22:13 - Hardware refinement, engineering teams, and future milestones23:15 - Focus on robotics applications and exploring broader use cases24:54 - Funding plans, runway, and potential for co-funding from industry partners28:13 - Insights from the ChipStart program and strategic mentorship30:39 - Meet Robert Swann, chairman with a rich industry background31:37 - Future ambitions: balancing technical depths with business growth34:11 - Advice for researchers aspiring to start their own ventures35:36 - The significance of team and market understanding in startup success36:14 - Competitive landscape and uniqueness of RAYD’s approach37:25 - Final gratitude and future outlookResources & Links:* Royal Academy of Engineering Green Future Fellowship* Imperial College London* PSI (Photonic Systems in Switzerland)* Robert Swan - LinkedIn, Alpha MosaicThe BritChips Podcast is proudly sponsored by Silicon Catalyst UK, Official Partner of the government-funded ChipStartUK semiconductor incubator. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anttheantidote.substack.com